Nervous System and Autodesk Debut Second 4D Kinematics Dress at CES 2015

As 3D printing becomes more and more prevalent, discussed, and questioned, one comment you hear often in jest by those just learning about the technology is, “So what’s next? 4D printing?” Well, newsflash: that idea already jetted off out of the station, and it’s a movement being propelled forward and further by Nervous System, with the Kinematics Dress.

We’ve been waiting to see what Nervous System would show us with their next move related to fashion and technology, and it comes in the form of impressive improvements. Showing off their second version of the dress at International CES this week, Nervous System will be working with Autodesk to educate peers and event goers on their 4D printing concept. With exposure at the largest conference regarding consumer technologies, the Kinematics concept is going to be eye opening for many, as well as further cementing the idea of 3D printing in fashion and design.

Kinematics Interlocking Modules

Nervous System is a company that works in a variety of disciplines, using their expertise and knowledge for a meeting in the middle with science and art being driven by technology. Influenced and inspired by nature, the Nervous System team works to illuminate new projects through digital design and production. Their motivation behind high-tech designs like the Kinematics Dress is to use their wide array of talents for products that are not only beautiful and impressive, but realistic and utilitarian — as in, yes, you can actually wear this, look good, and feel good too.

Focused on “pattern formation,” Nervous System is a creator of design software and applications derived from nature. They offer Kinematics in a number of different fashions pertaining to dress such as bodices and belts, and also offer jewelry. Nervous System offers 3D printed items such as various scientific objects, metal jewelry and wedding rings, and items like 3D printed lamps.

The beauty of the Kinematics dress is that it breaks the stereotype of 3D printing and fashion as producing stiff, unwearable art used more to make a statement than providing real clothing. With their focus on nature and a talent for translating that theme into computational design and algorithms, Nervous System has been successful in creating a dress featuring a complex network of modules that result in foldable form via 4D printing. Nervous System describes the concept of 4D printing as a system that uses 3D printing but takes the forms one step further into producing realistic, flexible structures — producing an additional dimension of adaptability — thus, a dress that can adapt to the body comfortably and fluidly — with impressive aesthetics. Fashion aside, the idea of 4D printing begins breaking a whole new set of barriers and unleashing potential for every sector.

Just last month, we reported on their first Kinematics dress, which was composed of tens of thousands of interlocking components which are 3D printed in one piece and cause the dress to move flexibly, fluidly, and basically allow it to be worn not just straight off the rack — but straight off the printer.

For the second version of the dress, Nervous System has teamed up with Shapeways again to produce an even more functional example of Kinematics fashion. By reducing the size of the hinge joints and thus adding a larger amount of panels — one thousand more panels, to be exact — the dress is even more flexible and light. Sponsored by Autodesk and 3D printed by Shapeways, the Kinematics dress features 3,212 panels connected by 4,709 hinges. The team from Nervous System will be present at the Autodesk booth at International CES this week in Las Vegas to display and discuss the innovative, wearable design which is completely customizable.

Have you been following the headlines regarding the Kinematics dress and 4D printing? What do you think the true potential is for either? Tell us about it in the Second 4D Kinematics Dress Debuts forum over at 3DPB.com.

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